The internet was buzzing over the past week with articles about the “Momo” YouTube character that was enticing kids to hurt themselves, and threatening to kill them if they don’t comply. I personally was concerned about it since my 5 year old boy watches YouTube sometimes, but a few searches later on google I learned that it was a hoax, and in fact several articles were published on popular news outlets in the last two days to inform people about it.
However, just when everyone started to know that this whole “Momo challenge” thing is false, ex-minister Inaya Ezzeddine felt like pitching in by calling the ministers of Interior, Educations, and Telecommunications to take the necessary measures in order to ban the Momo “game” in Lebanon. Okay madam but what game do you exactly mean?
From a doctor turned minister, everyone would expect smarter statements. But just like a typical know-it-all Lebanese, she decided to contribute to the mass panic without even a minimum knowledge about the topic. And what’s with the fake belief in the power of censorship? An educated doctor in our age seriously believes you can actually ban things on the internet? How about simply providing some internet safety tips instead? Lebanese politicians are seriously so cringy that they make you feel uncomfortable even when they mean good!
Still, the worst is yet to come. Wait for Joe Maalouf and company on Monday night when they discuss the issue on their upcoming episodes!